Heney o



(No Model.)

H. 0. GANPIELD.

BUSTLE.

Patented Mar. 22, 1887.

. wlmgsks co, v7. T i4. nlmg 7m N. PETERS. Pholo Liihcgnphor. Wnhingtun, D. C.

ilnrrnn STATES HENRY O. CANFlELD, OF BRIDGEPORT,

COXNECTIOUT, ASSIGXOR TO THE ")ANFIELD RUBBER COMPANY, OF SAME PLAOF.

BUSTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,711, dated IvZarch 22, 1887.

A pplicaiion tiled Fepiemlu r 10, 1886. Serial No. fllfifll).

To aZl whom, it may concern:

3e it known that I, HENRY O. CANFIELD, of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairtield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bustles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to, which it appcrlains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in bristles.

The object is to provide a bustle which will collapse into a flattened form when subjected to pressure, as in assuming a sitting posture, and which will automatically assume its extended form as soon as the pressure is removed.

A further object is to provide simple and convenientmeans Forsccuring the curved bars to the side strips, and for insuring the return of the several bars to their proper positions relatively to each other and to the side strips, and in general to provide a light, d urablc, graceful, and inexpensive bustle.

\Vith these ends in View my invention consists in certain features of construction and comliinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the bustle with parts extended. Fig. 2 is a view of same collapsed. Fig. 3isalougitudinal section through oneofthe side strips, showing manner of securing the bars thereto; and Fig. l is a partial verticalsection through the middle points of the bent bars, showing the spacing'strip.

A A represent a pair of side strips, preferably ineased in firm fabric B, which projects inwardly in narrow strips 1), provided with eyelets I) along the edges, for the reception of a lacing, G, and project outwardly in the form of skirts or flaps c, the edges of which may be finished in a neat attractive manner by an edging or embroidery.

The side strips, A, are each provided with a series of eyelets, a, at such a distance apart as it is desired to place the curved bars.

D D D, 820., represent a series of reeds or spring-bars, gradually decreasing in length from the lower one, D, to the upper one. The ends of the spring-bars are preferably bound No model.)

by metallic clips d,as is common, and are provided with eyelets E.

The bars D D, &c., are secured to the side strips by means of a tape or lacing, F, the lower end of which is secured firmly to the face of the side strip conveniently by an eye let, a, at a point above the eyelet, to which the ends of the lower bar D is secured. From its point of fastening the tape or lacing ex tends down to and through the lower eyelet a, thence through the eyelet E in the end ot'the spring-bar, thence back through the eyelet (t, and up along the face of the strip A to the next eyelet a, where it secures the end of the spring-bar D in the same manner as it did the end of D. The ends of each of the bars D D, &c., are secured successively by the tape or lacing F, and the latter at its upper end is secured to the upper end of the strip A, preferably by means of an eyelet, a, which also secures the band or strap G.

The above-explained method of securing the ends of the spring-bars enables them to swing freely.

A llat tape, H, is secured to the several springbars at their middle points by eyelets Ii, set through the springbars and tape, and the lower bar is further connected with the second or other bar above it by a shurtspring-har, l, of the same general construction as the bars D D, 820. tape H, and is secured to the bars D D by means of a lacing, which extends through the eyelets h and through the eyelets in the ends of the bar I. By means of the bar I the three (more or less) lower bars, D D D, &c., are retained at the proper distance apart, but are free to be rocked.

A pair of fine spiral springs, K, have one end secured at the ends of the lower bar D, or at the lower ends of the side strips, A, or to the loops formed by the securing tape or lac ing F. .The oppositeends of the spiral springs are secured to tags L, attached to the second or other spring-bar, at points about half-way between the ends and middle of the springbar. The bars which the springs connect are preferably somewhat larger and stiffer than the others, but not necessarily so.

The effect of the springs K is to hold the The bar I is located in front of the three or more lower bars D D D", &c., in av normally-extended adjustment at right angles to the side strips, A, and hence, because of the attachment of the strip H, to draw the rernaim ing bars down into position.

To afford a stay for the upper bars, and also to give the bustle a gracefully-rounded shape from the top band to the top bars, D and at the same time render the upper portion of the bustle capable of being pressed into a fiat adjustment, I provide a diagonal spring-bar, M, the ends of which are secured in the same loops which secure the ends of someone of the bars D D, &c., below the upper one, preferably the second from the top, and. the bow of which extends above the upper bar, D The tape H is attached to the middleof the bar M and to the back of the band G. The band G consists of a strong strip of webbing firmly secured to the upper ends of the side strips, A, and to the fabric which incases them. The lacing 0 serves to draw the ends of the spring bars together, and thereby change the shape of the bustle, making it more or less-prominent, as may be desired.

It will be observed that the bars, when pressed from the bottom, are free to swing upwardly into a position which will render the bustle essentially fiat, and that when such pressure is removed the tension of the springs K will promptly return the bars to their extended positions. Furthermorathe weight of the dress and skirts is received on the crown of the diagonal bar M and in a direction nearly in line with its lengthgvhich prevents it from being sprung out of shape, as is liable to be the casewith the horizontal upper bar or bars when used alone.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the arrangement and shapes of the different parts described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not wish to limit myself strictly to the construction herein set forth; but,

Havingfullydescribed myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- Y 1. In a bustle, the combinatiomwith a pair of side strips extending throughout the length of the bustle and having perforations, a series of horizontal spring-bars having perforated above the upper horizontal spring-bar, sub-* stantially as set forth.

3. t In a bustle, the combination,.with apair of side strips provided with series of perforations, of a series of spring-bars provided with perforations in their ends, and a tape or lacing adapted to secure the ends of the spring bars to the side strips in swinging adj ustment, substantially as set forth.

at. Ina bustle, the eombination,with aset of spring-bars secured to side strips in swinging adjustment, of a tape connecting the crowns of the several bars with the top band, a spacing-bar connecting the lower horizontal bar with a bar aboveit, and diagonal springs connecting one of the bars above the lower bar with the lowerends of the side pieces, whereby the several bars are automatically returned from a collapsed to an extended adjustment, substantially as set forth.

5. The bustle consisting, esentially, of the perforated side strips, horizontal springbars perforated at their ends, a lacing for securing the spring-bars to the side strips, the diagonal spring-bar the bow of which extends above the upper horizontal spring-bar, the spacingbar connecting two or more of the horizontal spring-bars, and the springs, all of the above parts combined substantially as set forth.

I11 testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY O. GANFIELD.

\Vitnesses:

FRED XV. HALL, I. B. PRINDLE. 

